Locator bracket for cabinet member drawer face

ABSTRACT

A plastic or metal locator bracket for providing securing surfaces for cabinet member drawer slide mechanisms formed to fit within discreet areas of drawer supporting structures. The body portion has first and second substantially flat portions formed at right angles with each other, spacer elements or tabs and a center marker to provide quick positioning within a discretely formed space. Shaped pockets integral with the first substantially flat portion provide structure for multiple fastener receiving apertures to accommodate a plurality of drawer frame front thicknesses. The first and second substantially flat portions have interior engaging surfaces for securement to the frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to drawer brackets and more particularly to a locator bracket for a drawer front face frame.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] In cabinet and cooperatively received drawers, cabinet member drawer slides are conventionally positioned by fastening the slide attaching ends to the edge of the cabinet frames be it either the front frame or the rear frame. The thickness of the cabinet frame material, usually wood, is sufficient to receive screws or other conventionally used fastening devices without splitting or damaging the frame.

[0005] In newer and more moderately priced residential structures, there is an increasing use of different cabinet materials such as plastics and fiber structures which are formed in smaller thicknesses to conserve space. This is particularly applicable to the mobile home industry wherein space is at a premium and cabinets and other built-in features are reduced to the smallest thickness possible.

[0006] In such new structures, the thickness of the cabinet frames is such that it is not feasible or desirable to insert fasteners such as screws or the like into the edges of cabinet frames as is conventionally done since such devices will cause the material to split or otherwise be deformed. In those structures, it has been found desirable to produce additional interior thicknesses at strategic locations so that conventional fasteners can still be used without damaging the front or rear frames. In many situations, even the use of an additional interior thickness of material is not possible because of space limitations.

[0007] From the foregoing, it can be seen that there is a need to develop a structure or device that will enable the securement of, for example, drawer runners to the frame structure without damaging the structure itself. It is to this particular need that the present invention is directed.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention is a locator bracket for securement to cabinet face frames to support cabinet member drawer slides and includes a body portion having frame engaging tabs and a center marker to expedite the positioning of the bracket at the proper location on the frame to provide accurate spacing for the attachment of cabinet member drawer runners and slides. The body portion has first and second substantially flat portions positioned at a right angle with each other. Shaped pockets formed on the first flat portion provides material for the placement of a plurality of multiple fastener receiving apertures for securing drawer runners to cabinet frames of varying thicknesses. The first and second flat portions have interior engaging surfaces positioned against the interior of the frame and fastened thereto. The fastener receiving apertures are abundant and offer multiple locations for securement of the drawer runner to accommodate cabinet frames of various thicknesses.

[0009] With this brief summary and other comments concerning the invention in mind, it is therefore a primary objective of the present invention to provide a locator bracket of a unique construction which will include all of the advantages of prior art devices of this nature and none of the disadvantages.

[0010] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a self positioning bracket that can readily be affixed to the interior of a cabinet frame and to which can be secured one or more cabinet member drawer runners.

[0011] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a bracket of the type described which is particularly resistant because of its material to damage or distortions.

[0012] Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a bracket of the type described which can be economically and efficiently produced by automated means.

[0013] A further objective of the present invention is to provide a bracket of the type described that can be used for a plurality of cabinet frames of varying thicknesses.

[0014] Thus, there has been outlined the more important features of the invention in order that the description that follows may be better understood and in order that this contribution may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter that will also form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings.

[0015] The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in several ways. The phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and are not to be regarded as limiting. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the design of the structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the invention. In that respect, the claims are to be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0016] Consequently, the objectives set forth above, together with other objectives of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, will become more apparent after consideration of the following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective fragmentary view of the bracket of the present invention attached to a portion of a cabinet frame front;

[0018]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the bracket comprising the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the bracket comprising the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the bracket comprising the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bracket comprising the present invention; and

[0022]FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the bracket comprising the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023] Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 6, a locator bracket embodying the present invention is shown generally as 10 and includes a body portion 12 having spacer elements or tabs 14 positioned a predetermined distance apart to allow the bracket 10 to be easily positioned within the spacing of two face frame members 15 as shown in FIG. 1. Body portion 12 has an exterior surface and an interior frame engaging surface and a first substantially flat portion 11 and a second substantially flat portion 13 formed at a right angle with each other. A center marker 16 is positioned midway between spacer tabs 14 and supplies additional support for bracket 10 as it is urged into position before being fastened along body portion frame engaging surface 18. Bracket 10 is secured to frame face 17 by staples or other appropriate means.

[0024] Body first substantially flat portion 11 has a plurality of apertures 20, 22 to receive securing members such as pins at multiple locations that enable the use of the same bracket 10 on frame face members of different materials and thicknesses. These multiple adjusting apertures 20, 22 can be selected so that the drawer is always precisely positioned with respect to the frame front no matter what material thickness is selected.

[0025] Apertures 20, 22 are wholly formed within shaped pockets 24 integrally formed with bracket 10. Additional supporting elements 26 (triangularly formed bracing members are also provided to give added strength to the body portion structure. Bracing members are right triangles and conform to the exterior surfaces of the first and second substantially flat portions 11, 13. Second substantially flat portion 13 has a plurality of fastener receiving apertures 19.

[0026] From the preceding description, it can be seen that a locator bracket has been provided that will meet all of the advantages of prior art devices of this nature and offer additional advantages not provided by such devices. With respect to the foregoing description, the optimum dimensional relationships with relation to the parts of the invention including variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, use and assembly are deemed readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships illustrated in the drawings and described in this specification are intended to be encompassed herein.

[0027] The foregoing is considered illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is intended not to limit the invention to the precise description and operation of the embodiment shown. All suitable modifications and equivalents that fall within the scope of the appended claims are deemed within the present inventive concept. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A locator bracket for a drawer face cabinet member to provide securing surfaces for a drawer frame, the bracket having a body portion with an exterior and an interior frame-engaging surface, a first straight substantially flat portion and a second substantially flat portion formed at a right angle with the first substantially flat portion, a plurality of triangularly shaped bracing members connecting the exterior surface of the first substantially flat portion with the exterior surface of the second substantially flat portion, a pair of shaped pockets formed on the exterior surface of the first substantially flat portion, a plurality of fastener receiving apertures formed in the interior surface of the first substantially flat portion and extending into each of the shaped pockets to receive securing means for securing the bracket to the frame, and a plurality of frame engaging tabs formed at the junction of the interior surfaces of the first and second substantially flat portions to position the bracket in a selected position with the frame.
 2. The locator bracket as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of the triangularly shaped bracing members is formed at the midpoint of the joined first and second substantially flat portions as a center marker.
 3. The locator bracket as claimed in claim 2 wherein the triangularly shaped bracing members are right triangles.
 4. The locator bracket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shaped pockets are integral with the first substantially flat portion.
 5. The locator bracket as claimed in claim 3 wherein the shaped pockets are integral with the substantially flat portion.
 6. The locator bracket as claimed in claim 3 wherein the second substantially flat portion has a plurality of fastener receiving apertures.
 7. The locator bracket as claimed in claim 5 wherein the second substantially flat portion has a plurality of fastener receiving apertures. 